Collapsible ironing board



W. FICKEN l COLLAPSIBLE IRONING BOARD April 5, w49.

5 Sheets-Shea?l 1 Filed July 15, 1945 @w @u wmmwwm. EN h@ hlllllay INVENTOR.

pril 5, 1949.

w. FICKEN COLLAPSIBLE IRONING BOARD Filed July 15, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. mgimc e, BY J April 5, 1949. w. PlcKEN 2,466,556

. GoLLAPsIBLE IRONING BOARD Filed July 1-3, 194s Y v s sheets-sheet s Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITE V, ,E

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OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible ironing boards, and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of foldable leg structure for ironing boards.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel` construction of foldable leg means for an ironing board which may be collapsed flatly against the underside of the board subject to quick and easy manipulation for extension thereof to board supporting condition, and including manipulatable means for positively locking the leg means in such extended board support ing condition.

The invention has for a further object to provide a foldable leg structure for ironing boards comprising a frame member swingably connected with the rear end portion of the board, to which frame member laterally spreadable rear legs are pivotally connected, a down-swinging front leg means pivotally connected with the board forwardly of said frame member, a collapsible toggle hinged brace bar means pivotally connected to the board and to said frame member to extend therebetween and manipulatable to control the swinging movements of said frame member, said brace bar means having releasable slide bolt means for positively locking the same in its extended operative position and against collapse; the leg structure further including a telescopically extensible stay or tie link. means interconnected between said frame member and said front leg means; all said parts being so related and interconnected as to provide, when operatively extended, a very rigid, rm and non-swaying leg structure of substantial spread.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a bottom plan view of an ironing board with the leg structure collapsed. Fig. 2 is a side elevational View thereof; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal Sectional view thereof with the leg structure collapsed.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View of the ironing board showing, by full lines, the leg 'structure extended to service position and, by broken lines, the

initial movement of the leg structure from co1- lapsed to extended position; Fig; 5 is a transverse sectional View, taken on line 5 5 in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 4, the same showing the extended and locked condition of the brace bar of the leg i bolt side pieces It.

structure; and Fig..7 is a fragmentary View similar to that of Fig. 6, but showing the locking slide bolt of the :brace bar in released position.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts. I

ln the drawings, the reference character I0 indicates the body of an ironing board. Suitablysecured to the underside of the ironing board ld, in positions somewhat rearwardly ,offset from the lcenter point of the latter, are transversely aligned and spaced apart pairs of bearing ears ll for pivotallyr attaching the upper end of a front leg structure to the ironing board.

Said front leg structure `comprises a pair of leg sections l2 which are preferably made of metallic tubing, such, e. g., as aluminum tubing; the tubing being preferably oi polygonal cross-sec,- tional shape. The upper ends of said leg sections l2 are spread apart, and are respectively pivotally connected at i3 to the bearing ears H.

vBeyond their spread upper ends, said leg sections convergingly extend toward each other so as to be joined at their lower ends by a fastening I4. Carried by said fastening bolt I4, 'so as to be disposed between said lower ends of the leg sections I2, is a foot piece l5, which is preferably rnade of rubber or like resilient material. The front leg structure when collapsed is adapted to lie flatly against the underside of the lironing board l.

Suitably secured to the underside of the ironing board lil, in rearwardly spaced relation tothe pivoted upper end of the above described front leg structure, and intermediate the same and the rear end of said board l0, is a transverse plate i6 `having bearing ears l'i dependent from its ends. Pivotally connected to and between said bearing ears Il is the upper end of a swingable transverse frame member F. Said frame member F is formed by transversely spaced side pieces I8, preferably made of aluminum tubing of polygonal cross-sectional shape. Rigi-ally connected with and between the lower end portions -of said side pieces I8, to respectively bridge betweenthe front and rear faces thereof, is a front panel I9 anda rear panel 2E), the lower marginal portions of which extend beyond the extremities I6 of said Ii desired, the panels I9 and 120 may be stifened and reeniorced by a cross-bar 2l disposed to extend between the side pieces I8 and contiguous to and intermediate the upper marginal portions of said panels I9 and 2l). Aflixed to and between said panels ISl and 20 is a centrallydisposed and longitudinally extending bracket bar 22, having an outer end portion extending freely beyond the lower margins of said panels I9 and 20. Aiilfxed to the sides of said bracket bar 22, so as to be supported and laterally spaced thereby, are a pair of bracket plates 23, portions of which extend freely outwardly and downwardly of said bracket bar 22.

A preferred means for pivotally connecting the frame member F to and between the bearing ears I1 comprises a transverse bolt 24 extending through and between the latter. Said bolt extends through a sleeve 25, the ends of which abut washers 26 contiguous to the inner faces of said bearing ears I1. Said bolt 24, when tightened, draws the bearing ears and washers into tight abutment against the ends of the sleeve 25, thus binding said sleeve against rotation. The interiors of the upper end portions of the tubular side pieces I8 are provided with inserted reenforcing blocks 21, which may be made of any suitable material, such e. g., as wood. The pivoting sleeve 25 passes through said thus reenforced end portions of the side pieces I8, so that the latter may freely turn thereon. Such arrangement provides a true, smoothly acting and substantially wear resistant pivotal support for the swingable frame member.

A collapsible toggle hinged brace bar means is connected between the underside of the ironing board and the lower free end of the above described frame member. This brace bar means comprises a lower part formed by a single brace bar section 28 and an upper part formed by a pair of laterally spaced brace bar sections 29, inner portions of which respectively lap opposite sides of the inner end portion of said lower brace bar section 28. Said brace bar sections 28 and 29 are also preferably made of aluminum tubing of polygonal cross-sectional shape. Said lapped inner end portions of the brace bar sections 28 and 29 are toggle hinged by hinging connection 30, which preferably is substantially similar to the hinging connection between the side pieces I8 and the bearing ear I1 as above described. The outer end of the lower brace bar section 28 is pivotally connected at 3| to and between the bracket plates 23 with which the lower free end of the frame member F is provided. The outer ends of the brace bar sections 29 are respectively pivotally connected at 32 to bearing ears 34 which are suitably aflixed to the underside of the ironing board I9 in forwardly spaced position relative to pivotal connection of the front leg structure with said ironing board. The inner end portion of said lower brace bar section 28 is hollow and outwardly open, and slidably mounted therein is a bolt bar 35. Carried by said bolt lbar 35 is a transversely disposed lock pin, the ends of which respectively project through slot- Ways 36 provided in the opposite side walls of said hollow end portion of the lower brace bar section 28, thus providing oppositely and externally projecting lock studs 31. Connected with the outer end of said bolt bar 35 is a nger piece or loop 38, by means of which said bolt bar may be manipulated. The inner end portions of the respective upper brace bar sections 29 are respectively provided, at the side faces thereof which are opposed to the sides of said inner portion of the lower brace bar section 28, with lock bosses or plates 39. Said lock bosses or plates 39 are provided at their inner ends with outwardly open longitudinal lock stud receiving slots or notches 40,

I When `the brace bar means is collapsed, the

same will lie atly against the underside of the ironing board, and between the leg sections I2 of the front leg structure.

A telescopically extensible stay or tie link means is interconnected between the free end portion of the front leg structure and the frame member F, the same comprising a hollow tubular barrel section 4I, pivotally connected at 42 by its rearward end to and between the bracket plates 23 with which the lower free end of the yframe member F is provided. Aflixed in the forward end of said barrel section 4I is a tubular guide bushing 43. Said stay or tie link means is completed by a tie rod 44, the forward end of which is pivotally connected at 45 to and between the leg sections I2 of the front leg structure. The opposite end of said tie rod 44 extends slidably through the guide bushing 43 into the hollow interior of the barrel section 4I, and terminates within the latter in a stop head 46. When the leg structure is collapsed, said barrel section 4| will flatly overlie the collapsed brace bar means.

Laterally swingable rear leg members are carried by the frame member F to extend therefrom at each side thereof. Each rear leg member comprises a butt end 41, an oblique or outwardly inclined shaft 48 and a foot portion 49; the latter -being preferably provided with foot piece 50 made of rubber or like resilient material. Said butt ends 41 of the rear leg members are provided with inwardly extending, laterally offset` hinging knuckles 5I, which are disposed between the panels I9 and 2!) of the frame member F, and pivotally connected thereto at 52. As thus mounted in connection with the frame member F, said rear leg members, when the leg structure is collapsed, may be in-swung to lie within the confines of the sides of the ironing board I8, as shown by full lines in Fig. 1. When the leg structure is extended, said rear leg members may be outswung until their butt ends 41 align themselves with the side pieces I8 of the frame member F, and with their extremities stopped against the extremities I8 of the latter, as shown by broken line in Fig. 1 and Fig,y 5, whereby the outward swing of said leg members to operative position is limited. Means is provided for holding the rear leg members against in-swinging displacement, after the same are out-swung to operative positions. This means comprises a slide block 53 having a channel 53 in its underside which slidably embraces the barrel section 4I of the stay or tie link means when the leg structure is in collapsed condition. Pivotally connected in the ends of said slide block 53 are the inner ends of oppositely extending stay links 54, the outer ends of which are pivotally connected with the respective rear leg members. When the leg structure is collapsed, said slide block 53 is drawn toward the frame member F, thus in-swinging the stay links, and thereby in-swinging said rear leg members. To extend said rear leg members to operative outswung position, the slide block 53` is moved outwardly relative to the frame member F, thus straightening out the stay links 54 and thereby out-swinging the rear leg members. In so doing, the slide block 53 is pushed somewhat beyond the axis of alignment of the stay links so that the latter are swung somewhat beyond dead center, and until stopped against shoulders 55 with which the slide block is provided (see Fig. 5) in which position the rear legs are firmly braced by the stressed stay links against in-swinging displacement.

When the leg structure is moved to collapsed condition so as to be folded against the underside of the ironing board l0, means is provided for releasably retaining the leg structure so disposed. This means comprises an angular clip member 56 which is secured to the underside of the ironing board. When the leg structure is collapsed, and the rear leg members in-swung, one of the latter will move beneath the bill 51 of said clip member 56, thus restraining the leg structure against out-swing extension, until the rear leg members are first moved to out-swung operative positions (see Fig. 1).

To extend the leg structure from its collapsed condition to extended operative condition in which it supports the ironing board l@ for use, the latter is stood upright on its rear end with its underside and the collapsed leg structure outwardly presented. The user, standing behind the board, rst pushes downward the slide block 53 whereby to out-swing the rear leg members to the operative position (shown by broken lines in Fig. l), thereby releasing the leg structure from the restraint of the clip member B. This having been done, the user now grasps the :nger piece or loop 'et and pushes the brace bar means outwardly, thereby swinging outwardly the sections 29 and through the section y23 transmitting a like out-swinging movement to the frame member F and the extended rear leg members carried thereby. As this occurs, the iront leg structure will also swing outwardly. Such operation is continued until the brace bar sections attain aligned relation, by which time the leg structure attains operative extended condition, with said brace bar means operatively extended between the board and the out-swung frame member F, whereby to rmly brace and retain the latter and the rear leg members in operative position. ATS this occurs, the vextensible stay or tie link means lllili will automatically extend itself between the frame-member F and the lower end portion of the front leg structure l2l2, until the stop head @5 is arrested by abutment against the inner end of the guide bushing t3, thus rmly holding the front leg structure in operative position and against collapse.

When the leg structure is thus operatively extended, the brace bar means is locked in its extended operative position and positively held against collapse.

whereby the lock studs 3l are carried into the receiving slots or notches d@ of the lock bosses or plates 39, thus rigidly interlocking the brace bar sections E3 and 29 against relative hinging movement about the pivotal connection 3% thereof, thereby positively and securely holding the leg structure in extended operative ironing board supporting condition.

To release the leg structure for movement to collapsed condition, the user merely draws outwardly upon the bolt bar 35 so as to withdraw the lock studs 3l from the notches ill of the lock bosses or plates 39, whereupon, by continued outward pull upon the inger piece or loop 38, the brace bar sections Z8 and 2e swing relative one to the other about their pivotal connection 3l), so as to collapse and fold together, thereby causing an in--folding of the frame member F. Such irl-folding of the frame member F telescopically collapses the stay or tie-link means lll- 54, so that the front leg structure is freed for inswinging movement to its collapsed condition. After the leg-structure is thus collapsed and folded back against the underside of the ironing This is done, by pushing the bolt bar S5 inwardly into the brace bar section 28,

board, the rear leg members are in 'turninswung, and one thereof engaged under the bill of the holding clip member 5S, whereby to retain the leg structure in collapsed condition.

am aware that various changes could be made in the collapsible leg structure above described and shown in the accompanying drawings wthout departing from the scope of this invention as dened in the following claims. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illus trative and not in a limiting sense. l

I claim:

1, An ironing board having a collapsible leg structure comprising a transverse frame member swingably connected with the rear end portion of said board, laterally spreadable rear leg members extending from the free end of said frame member, a front leg structure swingably connected with said board at a point forwardly of said frame member, a brace bar means comprising a lower brace bar section pivotally connected with said frame member adjacent the free end of the latter and an upper brace bar section pivotally connected with the forward portion of said board, meeting end portions of said brace bar sections being adapted to overlap, a hinge connection joining said meeting end portions at a point spaced inwardly from the lapping extremity of said lower brace bar section, a manipulatable slide bolt means carried by the lapping portion oi said lower brace bar section and cooperative slide bolt engageable means carried by the lapping portion of said upper brace bar section, whereby to provide said brace bar sections with self-contained means to releasably lock the same in operative extended relation against collapse, and a telescopically extensible tie link means interconnected between said frame member and said front leg structure.

2. An ironing board having a collapsible leg structure comprising a transverse frame member swingably connected with the rear end portion of said board, said frame member having side pieces bridged at their outer end portions by transverse front and back panels, rear leg members extending from said frame member, said rear leg members having butt portions alignable in end to end' abutment with said frame member side pieces and laterally offset hinging knuckles pivoted to and between said panels, said butt portions being housed between and braced by said panels, said rear leg members being adapted to be laterally in-swung to out of service position and out-swung to service position, collapsible stay means for releasably holding said rear leg members in out-swung service position, said frame member having a central bracket means extending from its free end; a collapsible toggle hinged brace bar means having one end pivotally connected with a forward portion of said board andI having its opposite end pivotally connected with said frame member bracket means, said brace bar means having selfcontained means for releasably locking the same in extended operative position against collapse, a iront leg structure swingably connected with said board at a point forwardly of said' frame member, and a telescopically extensible tie link means interconnected between said front leg structure and said frame member bracket means.

3. An ironing board having a collapsible leg structure comprising a transverse frame member swingably connected with the rear end portion of said board', said frame member having side pieces :bridged at their outer end portions by front and back panels, rear leg` members extending from said frame member, said leg members having ,butt portions alignable in end to end abutment with said frame member side pieces so as to be stopped against the extremities of the latter and laterally oiset hinging knuckles pivoted to and between said panels, said butt portions being housed between and braced by said panels, said rear leg members being adapted to be laterally Y in-swung to out of service position and out-swung to service position, collapsible stay means for releasably holding said rear leg members in out- -vswung service position, said frame member hav-` .ing a central bracket means extending from its free end, a brace bar means comprising a lower bar section` formed by a single bar pivotally connected with said frame member bracket means and an upper section formed by a pair of laterally spaced bars pivotally connected with the forward portion of said board, rearward end portions of the laterally spaced bars of said upper section and the forward end portion of said single bar vof the lower section being disposed in lapping relation, a hinge connection joining said lapping lapping portion of at least one bar of said* upper section, whereby to provide said brace bar sections with sel-contained means to releasably lock the same in extended relation against col-` `lapse, a front leg structure swingably connected ywith said board at a point forwardly of said frame member, and a telescopically extensible tie link means interconnected between said front leg structure and said frame memberY bracket n means.

4.'An ironing board having a collapsible leg structure including a rear leg structure swingably connected with the rear end portion of the board,

a .brace bar means comprising a lower section formed by a single bar pivotally connected by its rear end portion with said rear leg structure and VLan upper section formed by a pair of laterally spaced bars pivotally connected with the forward portion of said ironing board, rearward end portions of the laterally spaced bars of said upper section and the forward' end portion of the single bar of said lower section being disposed in lapping relation, a hinge connection joining said lapping yend portions of said bars at a point spaced inwardly from the forward extremity of said single bar, said lapping end' portions of said bars having cooperative means manipulatable to interlock said brace bar sections in operative extendedre- :lation against collapse, a front leg structure pivot- ,allyconnected withsaid ironingboard at a point -forwardly of the location of said rear leg structure, and telescopically extensible tie link means Vinterconnected between said front and' rear leg structures, said brace bar meanswhen released, being adapted to collapse when out-swung relative to the ironing board and thereby to simultaneously in-fold said rear and front leg structures against the ironing board.

5. An ironingboard having a collapsible leg structure including a rear leg structure swingably connected With the rear end portion of the board,

`a brace bar means comprising a lower section `end portions of the laterally spaced bars of said upper section and the forward end portionof the single bar of said lower section beingfdisposed in lapping relation, a hinge connection joining said lapping end portions of said bars at a point spaced inwardly from the forward eXtremity of said single bar, the forward end portion of the singlebar of said lower section being of hollow outwardly open construction having slots in the side walls thereof which oppose adjacent spaced bars of said upper section, a bolt bar slidably mounted in said forward end of the single bar, said bolt bar having lateral lock studs projecting through and exteriorly of said slots, notched lock plates afiixed to the spaced bars of said upper section with which said lock studs cooperate, a linger piece connected with the exterior end of said bolt bar for manipulating the same and simultaneously manipulating the brace bar means, a front leg structure pivotally connected with Said ironing board at a point forwardly of the location of said rear leg structure, and a telescopically extensible tie link means interconnected between said front and rear leg structures, said brace bar means, when released, being adapted to collapse when out-swungrelative to the ironing board and thereby to simultaneously in-fold said rear and front leg structures against the ironing board.

WILLIAM PICKEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITEE STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,314,411 McCullough Aug. 26, 1919 1,636,232 Kalgren July 19, 1927 1,669,566 Larsen May 15, 1928 1,707,114 Cutler Mar. 26, 1929 2,220,896 Flagstad Nov. 12, 1940 

